What a week!

Almost one week since my last post!  Finally tonight I have internet and some time to write!

We have been having a good week with the children off from school.  Busy as ever with making sure things are getting done and things here are running well.  I spent the beginning of the week with the children and getting the rooms ready for the advocates that were going to stay here.

On Tuesday I spent the night at the guest house.  It was fun getting to know the advocates and what they are doing for Healing Haiti.  I cannot tell you what a huge blessing it was to see Julie and Missy!!!  I have been sending them so many emails and so many questions and to finally see them was amazing.

I was so lucky to spend time with Missy and really get to know her and see her work in action.  She works tirelessly for these children and elderly so that they have their medical needs meet.  She worked with Dr. Sem on Friday and Saturday and saw all the children and all the elderly.  She wrote everything down medically about them, filled all the prescriptions, and assisted Dr. Sem in everything else he needed.  She also did fluoride treatments on all the kids! It was amazing to see how much love and time she has given to this area and you can tell she is such a Godly person   These children have been through so much and have  such histories and it was so wonderful to get the support and guidance from her this week and I am going to truly miss her.

Julie is the glue that has held me together while I have been here and it was a blessing to have her come and visit. She is such a good person to have in the lives of these children.  She has the best personality for this job and just makes everything work.  While I worry about things way too much, she has the presence that makes everything seem just fine!  She knows how to talk and approach people and has the greatest smile.  I never once heard her complain and she was always there when needed.  For anyone who knows Julie, you are very lucky, because she is a wonderful person who does great things for God.

All of the team members were so great here and did a wonderful job with the children.  They had easter egg hunt planned.  We dyed easter eggs and made a cross mosaic out of the egg shells.  We watched a movie with the kids and ate popcorn.  It was just a fun time for the children and they were truly blessed.

Two of the team members are still with me tonight, Amy and Shelly.  It has been such a fun day with them.  I forget how much I miss chatting with women and having some fun with them!  We got clothes ready to give out to the children that come to church and had the kids get easter eggs ready for them.

Micky and Jewel will be coming soon and I am excited for that to happen!  They will arrive on April 12th and I will be working on getting things ready for them soon!

My emotions this week have been some what of a roller coaster.  I am realizing how material things are getting way less important to me and how much I love everyone at Grace Village.  I have gone through times of anger and frustration and times were I just needed to cry.  At times I can be so mad at these children, but they have endured more pain, disappointment, and been so mistreated in the past that sometimes I can hardly stand it.  It is a hard life in Haiti and I know their is so many children experiencing the same things that the children at GV have gone through.  I just ask that you continue to pray for all the children here and the workers as well.

On a better note I came out of my room the other day to drumming and the twins Mayck and Maycko were drumming and making the most magical sound from old pieces of tin laying around.  When the internet is fast I will post if for you.  It put me in the best mood and it was so much fun!

Tomorrow is easter sunday and we will be having the children wear their new easter outfits that so many of you donated!!  Thank you so very much!  They LOVED the clothes and I will post pictures of them after Easter.

Below I posted pictures of the play clothes some of you donated.  Thanks again to all who donate.  We love everything that we get and use it ALL! : )

Much Love, Gretchen

Happy Palm Sunday!

So I have not updated my blog as much as I would have liked this past week!  The internet has been going in and out!

The children have not had school since Wednesday and will not go back till April 10th so we have a long time with them here.  We have been keeping busy and yesterday Jeff arrived which was so exciting for the children!

Last week we had Haitian doctors and Americans come to a wellness check on the children.  It was so nice because I had a few really sick children and it was great to get them started on medications.  Next week we have the advocate's coming to visit and Dr. Sem will see the children as well.  I am very excited for them to stay here with us and for the children to get so much medical care!

Everyday there continues to be something new that I learn or something new that I experience here!  I still find myself getting frustrated with the Haitian culture or ways and need to daily remind myself why I am here and keep learning from God.

The children keep receiving wonderful donations from everyone in the states.  I continue to say thank you to those who are giving!  We are so blessed by all of you.  This week I got to pass out more backpacks, church clothes for the children, and play clothes for the children.  If you are giving and wondering if it is making a difference please know that YES!!!  We could not do anything here at Grace Village without your gifts of money, clothes, medical supplies, lotions, soaps and so many other things.  Keep up the huge hearts for the children here!  

So I am going to wake the children up here soon to go eat breakfast and then we will have church at 900.  It is Palm Sunday today and the start of Holy week.  What an amazing thing to celebrate and especially with these children!

Oh Jeff blessed me with a new router for my room so connection seems better!!! : ) Now I just have to get Haiti to improve their internet service!

***Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of Him and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Jesus was in the center of the procession and the people all around him were shouting "Praise God for the Son of David! Blessing on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Praise God in the highest Heaven!"   Matthew 21: 8-9

Wearing some of the new play clothes!

New site made in memory of those who passed on Jan. 12th

So Blessed

It has been an adjustment not having Dan here. I have really enjoyed having him and I miss him a lot. We both were blessed with the time we spent together here and are learning so much about our relationship.

A lot of my time the last couple of days has been sorting through all the donations that we have gotten from all the Healing Haiti teams. Since I was not here for awhile I have been trying to catch up! It is incredible how many things people donated and buy for these children. I feel like they are starting to get spoiled! I hope the children know how much people in the States care for them. I was able to give them backpacks and zip up hoodies. I know that seems crazy to give them hoodies, but it does get cool here and they do get cold. They love the hoodies and they were all walking around with big smiles today.

When I left for FL one of the boys seemed to have ringworm on his head. When I got back here it was still there even after washing the hair with special shampoo and putting cream on it. In addition to him still having it 6 other boys seemed to have the same thing! I did not know how I would transport that many children to see Dr. Sem, so the wonderful Dr. Sem came and saw the children today. I was so grateful and appreciative of his willingness to come. The children were happy to see him and he of course did a fabulous job. The children will now start on cream/shampoo and oral medication. Please pray that it will go away and it will stop spreading!

I am continuing to have so much fun with the children and keep learning new things everyday. Please pray that I will enjoy the rest of my time here and give as much love and guidance as I can to the people here.

Girls in their hoodies

Boys in their new hoodies

So Happy!

Straitening Shersunn's Hair, it was fun

Back "Home"

I arrived back to Haiti on Saturday.  I was so excited and happy to see the children!!  Jeff and the host family were in Haiti and I was able to see them for a short while.  They seem like a wonderful family to have at Grace Village and I am looking forward to getting to know them more and see how God will use them in Haiti.  

When we arrived to Grace Village on Saturday a Healing Haiti team was there to greet us.  We were able to spend some time with them on Saturday and spent the afternoon with them on Sunday.  It was so much fun to be with them and Tom and Shelly defiantly kept Dan and I entertained!  I laughed so hard and had a blast listening to their stories.

During the week I have had my husband Dan with me.  It has been so amazing and so nice to have him here.  He is leaving tomorrow and I am so sad to see him go.  He has been a source of refreshment to me and has supported me so much this week.  I really wish he could stay.  We had fun playing with the children.  Dan and I played a game with them that entailed hiding eggs for them and then giving them candy when they found it, sort of like an easter egg hunt, but slightly different.  Dan made two special eggs for the children.  If they found them they got a big prize.  He called the eggs the bull egg and mama gretchen egg.  They now call the game mama Gretchen lol!  They absolutely loved this game and had so much fun with it. We also played heads up seven up, soccer, and many other games with them.  Dan helped me organize and distribute things to the children.  It was such a great time with him and I am so blessed to have had this time together.

We still are working on listening skills at Grace Village which continues to take time!  I am trying to get better with my creole so the children start to understand me better.

We have a few children that are sick and I ask that you continue to pray for them and for all the children.  

God continues to bless Grace Village with safety, support, love, and encouragement to all of us.  So many Healing Haiti teams have brought such wonderful stuff to the children.  I got to give the children backpacks two days ago which was such a blessing and give them shoes that were needed.  I cannot tell you how grateful everyone here in Haiti is for all the teams that come and all the people that give/donate to these children.

I have not updated the blog lately due to not having internet at GV. I am in Port-au-prince tonight with my husband to see him off tomorrow so we are getting internet at the guest house!  Hopefully more to come soon!

The pitch!

And the hit with Idamene!

75 Days

Wow it doesn’t seem possible that in 75 days I will be headed down to Haiti for the year. It’s been sort of a whirlwind around here and as I sit back tonight and think about all the things I have yet to do and to take care of it got to be a little overwhelming. But I am continually reminded of

2 Corinthians 5:7~We live by faith, not by sight.

This verse has been and will continue to be my strength and comfort as I work to get everything in place before I leave. There is nothing that I can do but to have faith and trust in God that He is going to provide for me in every aspect and He is going to be taking care of me and walking me through this process. When things start to become overwhelming I need to sit back and remind myself that God is at the center of all this. He is holding my hand, sitting next to me, walking beside me, and giving me the strength I need. He is whom I look to when my life becomes a whirlwind and start to panic about everything that has to be done in 75 days…

There are moments when I wish I could be in Haiti right now; whether it’s because I want to get away from all this stuff I have to do, situations I’m in either at work or in my personal life, or the demands we place on ourselves-I have to remind myself that God is trying to teach me something in these moments and these 75 days too.

So the Journey Begins

It is with great joy and excitement that I write this! I am thrilled to tell you about all that God is doing in my life. I’m not quite sure where to begin...

Go into all the world and preach the good news to all.

~Jesus (Mark 16:15)

For the last two years God has put Haiti on my heart. I have been blessed to be able to serve those less fortunate on four short-term mission trips through an amazing organization called Healing Haiti. From my very first trip I knew that Haiti would always be apart of me. It is a place with so much poverty and despair but yet brings me so much joy and fills me with love beyond measure.

Over the last 8 months I have prayerfully considered serving in Haiti for a long-term mission. Through many prayers, God continues to open up doors and reveal Himself and the plans He has for me. Although there are still doors that need to be opened, I am certain that God will provide everything that I need as I follow His plan for my life. It is with overflowing joy in my heart that I am excited to tell you that God has answered my prayers and is leading me to serve in Haiti. I am currently planning on serving in Haiti for one year, but am leaving it all up to God as to where this may lead me.

I am so blessed and humbled to be working with the organization Healing Haiti and serving the children and people of Haiti. As I begin this journey I would so greatly love it if you would journey with me and help me to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus in such a poverty stricken country. This is a journey that I undoubtedly will need to be bathed in prayer every step of the way. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for me as I prepare for this journey and also throughout the year to come. I believe that God answers prayers and am currently seeking prayer for;

• Continued guidance and wisdom as I prepare
• God would provide for me financially
• He would provide comfort to my family and friends that I will be leaving behind
• He would prepare my heart, soul and mind for the journey ahead
• I would follow His lead in all this and put my own agenda aside.

Knowing that I will be bathed in prayer gives me peace as I prepare for this exciting journey.

Beyond your prayers, if you are led to join me by financially supporting me on this journey, I would be grateful. I will be taking a year off from work to follow God’s calling and know that in following God’s call He will provide for me in all that I need. Please prayerfully consider ways in which you may be able to support me as I follow God’s call to be a missionary. Any level of support that you are able to provide is greatly appreciated. (Please see attached for more details.)

I wish I could put into words how excited I am to begin this journey and see all that God has planned, not only for me but for the people of Haiti, and also my friends and family members, and my many supporters. God is good!!

I hope this finds you well and enjoying each day that God has so richly blessed us with.

Bondye beni ou!

God bless you!

In HIM,

Jessica Burmester

Update from FL

So right now I am on a family vacation!  I am enjoying my time with my family and husband, but am missing the children.  I have called them every night and mostly just hear each of their voices as I get passed from one child to the next!

They seem to be doing well and still maintaining their schedules.  Two of the children are sick and I just ask that you keep Jessica and Chrisaline in your prayers.  It is hard to be away from them and not there with them to help them.  I wish I could comfort them and give them hugs each day.  

Jeff is there right now which is so wonderful!!  I am so glad that they have him with them, but I am sorry that I will miss out on spending time with him.  I am excited to head back to Haiti with my husband and get to see the amazing children!